Do Not Worry!

Date: 10 June 2007
Speaker: 杨天恩牧师

Scripture Reference:
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33-34


A) Worry stems from self-centeredness

- People today are seeking self-satisfaction and self-gratification. This leads to the declination of moral values.
- Worry is the reflection of self-centeredness.
- Worry is also the driving force of self-centeredness

WORRY -- driving force --> SELF-CENTEREDNESS -- unfulfilled desires --> MORE WORRY
(vicious cycle)

* Are we living in a state of constant worry?

- Jesus sees our worries, and therefore He said 'Do not worry.'


B) Characteristics of Worry:

(i) Going after meaningless/worthless things

• 'consumerism', brand consciousness
• even modern church seems to be 'buying' services, going to churches based whether they feel the pastor or worship or maybe even facilities are good.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt 6:19-21

* Are our hearts set on eternal things?

(ii) Becomes selfish/stingy/overly protective of our own possessions/wealth

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. Matthew 6:22-24

• 'Eyes are good' = Generous / 'Eyes are bad' = Stingy
• Based on Jewish culture, 'light' represents good deeds or behaviours
• If we are generous, we'll be doing good deeds and others will see Christ in us and glorify God.
• Conversely, 'Darkness' represents bad things from Hell, and therefore we do not glory God if others see only darkness in us.

Conclusion: We should serve God wholeheartedly and set our hearts on Him, and do not worry!

Sermon on the temptations of Jesus, and us

Date: 27 May 2007
Speaker: Ps David Lim

Scripture Reference: Luke 4:1-13

The Temptation of Jesus
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,
2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.' "
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
7So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' "
9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.
10For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "
12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Most people go through 3 types of temptations:
- Name / Fame / Status
- Wealth
- Personal Glory

A) Name / Fame / Status (v4-5):
- This is the lust of the flesh.

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11

- We should be lifting up the name of Christ instead of ourselves.


B) Wealth (v6-8):
- This is the lust of the eyes.

"The Lord is our Shepherd, we shall not want." Psalm 23:1


C) Personal Glory (v9-13):
- This is the lust of our self / pride
- All power/position on earth is temporary
- What is our life, whether the good things or bad things, compared to eternity?